Tool driving unit

ABSTRACT

A unit for driving a tool, comprising a tool carrier supported for rotational and translational movement, first means for transmitting rotational drive to the carrier along a main power path, and second means branch-connected with this main power path and arranged to impress translational movement on the carrier upon flow of rotational drive along the main power path.

United States Patent Faulkner Dec. 4, 1973 TOOL DRIVING UNIT 459,7699/1891 Russell 74 424.s B 572,709 12/1896. McClellan. 74/424.8 B [75]Invent Fredmck Arthur Faulkner 1,292,169 1 1919 Voss 74 20 Easter,England 2,253,535 8/1941 Weinig 74/424.8 B [73] Assigneez FaulknerEngineering Limked, 2,949,789 8/1960 Emmger 74/23 Waltham Abbey, Essex,England Primary ExaminerCharles J. Myhre [22] Flled' 1972 AssistantExaminerWes1ey S. Ratliff, Jr. [21] Appl. No.: 234,883 Attorney-Eric H.Waters et a1.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Oct. 21, 1970 GreatBritain 49,064/70 A un1t for driving a tool, comprlsmg a tool earnersup- 52 US. Cl. 74/20 74/424.s B Pmedfor mama and first [51] 21/00 meansfor transmitting rotational drive to the carrier 58 Field of Search74/20, 424.8 B, 23 a main Pwer Path and sewn! means branch connectedwith this main power path and arranged to [56] References Cited impresstranslational movement on the carrier upon UNITED STATES PATENTS flow ofrotational drive along the main power path. 311,709 2/1885 Anderson74/424.8 B- 3 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure TOOL DRIVING UNIT This inventionrelates to a tool driving unit.

According to the present invention there is provided a unit for drivinga tool, comprising a tool carrier supported for rotational andtranslational movement, first means for transmitting rotational drive tothe carrier along a main power path, and second means branchconnectedwith this main power path and arranged to impress translational movementon the carrier upon flow of rotational drive along the main power path.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same maybe carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example,to the accompanying drawing, in which the single FIGURE is a sectionalside view of a tool driving unit.

The unit shown in the FIGURE is shown set-up for driving a tool that isa tap 1. This tap 1 is removably mounted in a tool carrier 2 that issupported for rotational movement, and for translational movement alongits axis of rotation, in a housing 3 of the unit. Within the housing 3 apinion 4 is fast with the tool carrier 2 centrally along the lengththereof. Engaged with the pinion 4 is a drive pinion 5 that is engagedwith a drive shaft 6 that enters the housing 3 from a prime mover (notshown). The teeth of the pinions 4 and 5 are straight teeth, in eachcase parallel with the rotational axis of their pinion, and theserotational axes of the two pinions are parallel, whereby translationalmovement of the pinion 4 and carrier 2, relative to the pinion 5, alongthe axis of rotation of the pinion 4 and carrier 2 can take place.

The end, located within the housing 3, of the carrier 2 remote from theend to which the tap 1 is attached has removably secured to it anexternally threaded member 7 which is engaged in a correspondinglyinternally threaded member 8 removably secured in the housing 3 so as tobe fast against rotation. Accordingly, upon rotation of the member 7with the carrier 2 the inter-action of the members 7 and 8 is such as tocause translational movement of the carrier 2. Y

There are thus provided, in the unit, the shaft 6, pinion 5 and pinion 4that serve to transmit rotational drive to the carrier 2 along a mainpower path, and the inter-engaged threaded members 7 and 8 that arebranch-connected with this main power path and which impresstranslational movement on the carrier 2 upon flow of rotational drivealong the main power path.

It is to be noted that the members 7 and 8 can be removed from the unit,without disturbing the components included in the main power path, andreplaced by differently threaded members so that a desired length oftranslational movement can be obtained. Likewise the pinion 5 is mountedin the housing 3 so as to be replaceable, whereby a desired speed ofrotation of the carrier 2 can be obtained.

The unit is suitable for driving tools other than taps, for example arearner. The pinion 4 can be driven other than by a pinion engagedtherewith. For examplethe pinion 4 can be engaged with a rack. A singlepinion or rack can be engaged with pinions 4 of several drive units eachbeing as just described.

Units such as described can be mounted in different types of machines,for example strip forming machines; transfer presses; progressivetooling/dies; and C.V.A./- Henry Wright type presses. With the presentunits production speeds up to and in excess of strokes per minute andtool life of taps in excess of fifty thousand passes can be obtained.

1 claim:

1. A tool driving unit comprising, in combination, a tool carrier; ahousing supporting said tool carrier for rotational motion of said toolcarrier and for translational motion along the axis of rotation of saidtool carrier; a driven pinion fixed to said tool carrier within saidhousing; a toothed driving member within said housing and meshing withsaid driven pinion, said pinion and said driving member having straightteeth parallel with the axis of rotation of said pinion so thattranslational motion of said pinion relative to said driving member cantake place during rotation of said pinion while being driven by saiddriving member; a first threaded member spaced from said driven pinionalong the axis of rotation of said tool carrier and secured to said'toolcarrier within said housing, said first threaded member rotating withsaid tool carrier; and a second threaded member secured to said housingand engaging said first threaded member, so that rotation of said firstthreaded member with said tool carrier by said driven pinion producingtranslational motion of said first threaded member and therebytranslational motion of said tool carrier, said translational motion ofsaid tool carrier occurring simultaneously with said rotational motionof said tool carrier, said translational motion of said tool carrierbeing related to the rotational motion of said tool carrier whereby onerevolution of said tool carrier moves said tool carrier along the axisof rotation by the pitch of said first threaded member.

2. A tool driving unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said first threadedmember is removably secured to said tool carrier, said second threadedmember being removably secured to said housing whereby said threadedmembers are replaceable and inter-changeable.

3. The tool driving unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said drivingmember comprises a driving gear.

1. A tool driving unit comprising, in combination, a tool carrier; ahousing supporting said tool carrier for rotational motion of said toolcarrier and for translational motion along the axis of rotation of saidtool carrier; a driven pinion fixed to said tool carrier within saidhousing; a toothed driving member within said housing and meshing withsaid driven pinion, said pinion and said driving member having straightteeth parallel with the axis of rotation of said pinion so thattranslational motion of said pinion relative to said driving member cantake place during rotation of said pinion while being driven by saiddriving member; a first threaded member spaced from said driven pinionalong the axis of rotation of said tool carrier and secured to said toolcarrier within said housing, said first threaded member rotating withsaid tool carrier; and a second threaded member secured to said housingand engaging said first threaded member, so that rotation of said firstthreaded member with said tool carrier by said driven pinion producingtranslational motion of said first threaded member and therebytranslational motion of said tool carrier, said translational motion ofsaid tool carrier occurring simultaneously with said rotational motionof said tool carrier, said translational motion of said tool carrierbeing related to the rotational motion of said tool carrier whereby onerevolution of said tool carrier moves said tool carrier along the axisof rotation by the pitch of said first threaded member.
 2. A tooldriving unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said first threaded member isremovably secured to said tool carrier, said second threaded memberbeing removably secured to said housing whereby said threaded membersare replaceable and inter-changeable.
 3. The tool driving unit asdefined in claim 1 wherein said driving member comprises a driving gear.